My Mp3 player supports mp3, aac, wma, and wav files and after doing a lot of listening to the different lossy formats and bitrates I decided to use 320 mp3's because to my ears they sound almost as good as CD quality, minus the frequency cut off.

I'm just wondering if anyone else here uses 320 kbps mp3's at all?

I've looked at some other threads and a lot of people say that if you are going to use 320 kbps mp3's you might as well use a lossless codec, and I understand that. (however, I use them because my player doesn't support any compressed lossless format)

I've also seen a lot of statements that 320 kbps is a pointless bitrate and something like 256 vbr is the highest thats worth using no matter what. I really don't agree with this, there is definitely an audible difference between 256 CBR or 256 VBR files and 320 files, to my ears anyway. (do I have really good ear's? I'm wondering) I have to admit LAME mp3's can pick up a lot of detail at 256 and 192 kbps, but they still don't sound as good as 320 mp3's.

I usually use 320 kbps mp3's, with the exception of fairly simple songs or exceptionally long songs, for which I use 256 kbps.

Just wanted to express my opinion and see how many other people use them, peace.

I think i've just about read enough of this messy cymbals, HF lowpass, i am young stuff on the net over the years. Even if its true I think its nothing to brag about . If normal masking which works on most people doesn't for you its NOT a good sign of ear health.

I think i've just about read enough of this messy cymbals, HF lowpass, i am young stuff on the net over the years. Even if its true I think its nothing to brag about . If normal masking which works on most people doesn't for you its NOT a good sign of ear health.

I'm not bragging! Not what I meant to sound like! >_>

If anything it's a bad thing because it effects how much i enjoy mp3's, which is mainly what I listen to. . . ------------------------------------------------------So many mixed replies!!! OK, from now on I won't make a single post about something without ABX test support, and I'll try to document exactly what I did, I should have done that in the first place like Tahnru said. I won't post again until I do a lot more tests involving lossy vs. lossless and lossy vs. lossy.

Yes, it is a shame that the issue has been clouded slightly; this whole thread is pretty fubar, but that's what always happens with TOS #8 violations. However there is really only one thing that you need to remember here: you've made a claim, you need to back it up. The more test data you can provide the happier we'll be.

QUOTE (JAKE196 @ Aug 6 2008, 23:25)

OK, from now on I won't make a single post about something without ABX test support ...

I have never posted results of an ABX test in my life. You just have to remember: if you state that you can hear a difference between one encoding and another you must be prepared to post results of an ABX to prove it. If you don't want to create FUD then really you should have performed the test before making such claims, to ensure confidence in your claim. TOS #8 is there to combat FUD, caused by members posting claims that simply are not true.

QUOTE (JAKE196 @ Aug 6 2008, 23:25)

... and I'll try to document exactly what I did, I should have done that in the first place like Tahnru said. I won't post again until I do a lot more tests involving lossy vs. lossless and lossy vs. lossy.

Hi, am interested in the general discussion you are having on high bitrate mp3s.I have discovered through experimentation since 2002/3 that a higher bitrate does improve the sound quality, using LAME (all versions) and outboard Hi-fi amp/headphones.The actual audio is 'closer' to the original CD.In fact, taking advantage of the '--athlower' setting you can increase the amount of audio you can hear, by moving the absolute threshold of hearing below that of which has been set by the algorithms.By using V0 and Q1 (and for an ultimate quality - Q0) the file quality is very good, with no audible artifacts and using Metal tracks with complex passages and other - pop dance punk newage synth etc.Being middle age, I cannot hear above 16khz myself and give an HF rolloff at 16k5Hz (it may affect cymbals and other transients)I do find it important, however, to actually enjoy the music once encoded!So the settings I use are :- (LAME 3.97) -b 128 -m j -V 0 -B 320 -F --lowpass 18.8 --lowpass-width 3 -q 0 --athlower 12and have never had any problems.